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I am pro-public sector despite its faults and feel the issues, which are fixable, sit with the UK Government. These issues include procurement (ring fenced suppliers), carrying on with vanity projects when the return on investment may never materialise (HS2), the sometimes improper awarding of contracts such as when the Government awarded a ferry contract to a company without ferry's and what appears to be outright corruption such as rushing through decisions so their mates avoid a regeneration charge.
Clearly you haven't lived through Labour governments. The winter of discontent, strikes bringing the country to its knees, rubbish on the streets etc.etc.
I'm pleased that you found social care so good under a Labour Administration but my own experience was very different. My mother was blind, had many strokes and was bedbound in the latter years of her life. She was a teacher, paid into the system throughout her life and all she and I got from the socialists when help was needed was a shrug of the shoulders and told to employ a private sector company to assist her in the morning and evening. Apparently there was no local authority help (although she met the criteria) as the Council had insufficient funds from the Labour government. However, I was given a list of potential companies; that's all I got. I couldn't do much myself as I lived 150 miles away. All I could do was chip in with the finances as my mother's money had gone so eventually we had to sell her house so she could pay her own way and move into a residential home costing £2500 a month. That was 20 years ago. If you think that's a utopian service then good luck to you. It may not be better now but couldn't be much worse.
Open your eyes. Not everything Labour does is great and the same goes for all governments of whatever persuasion.
Blair and his reforms (short for Privatisation) would've put to finished off good public sector care for your mother. The man was and is a bastard. He was hugely admired by the tories, especially Cameron. As for previous Labour Governments, plenty of working class people saw a large rise in living standards and income, and rightly so.
I would love to see evidence for a large rise in living standards under a Labour Administration.. You can prove me wrong but, in hindsight, all I recall now are high interest rates, high unemployment and high inflation even though at the time I was a huge admirer of Harold Wilson, Denis Healey, Crossman and even Jim Callaghan. Looking back I think my admiration may have been misplaced.
The poorest and the working class did see an improvement in income and living standards, that's because of a number of factors, Unions were strong as well (not like today) There was a class war taking place, we are now witnessing huge social poverty that wasn't as prevalent 30 to 40 years ago in my opinion.
Yes, in years gone by you could leave school with no academic qualifications and get a job that would pay enough to have a pretty comfortable life.
these days low paid jobs don't even pay enough to live on, so the government has to top up the pay with working benefits.
this is effectively a tax rebate to the companies, as the taxpayer is picking up half the salary for the employers.
No, I think companies are the taxpayer and are already paying.
Would I like to see higher wages and salaries. Yes I would. Do I think its right that some people need WTC. No i don't.
Most businesses appreciate staff are their greatest resource and want to reward them so they stay loyal - it costs to recruit a new member of staff. But sometimes economic reality limits how much cash can be set aside for staff pay.
Well, like you said, do some research. I was very young during the strikes, although i've no problem with workers trying to improve their conditions and pay, which is ultimately what they were about. Have a look at what has happened since the attack on workers and unions and tell me it's better for working class people. Born out of that systemic attack are the underclass and everything that goes with it, a loss of support in the community, huge social issues, single parent families, food banks, huge debt, mental health problems. Anyone who can't see that the attack on workers pay and conditions hasn't contributed to what we see now is completely deluded.
Thanks. I'm open minded. But this article from the New Statesman indicates that living standards have risen.
https://www.newstatesman.com/2017/01...wo-decades-ago
The problem lies with the media being controlled by the right wing. Turning working classes against each other with the I'm doing better than him attitude even tho they are working for a pittance haven't had a pay rise of any significance above inflation, thus making you poorer But you have a badge on your chest saying you are a MANAGER on 20-25k a year..... ..............
Working class have more access to money, the trouble is the rush to multiple car ,televisions ,devices and holidays places them into a new environment of demand pressure, and wants than that of the working class struggles of the class and union /government conflicts of the 60's and 70's .
My mother and father lived through the sixties and seventies
Public transport , the NHS and social care is in a far worse state than it was in the seventies when my grandmother lived with us . Since 1979 this country has become a slave to money .
You say you are open minded but I agree with another poster , you are deluded .
I am not giving you abuse I am saying you are deluded , your use of the term " socialists " sums it up , the labour politicians you talk about were traditional democratic people .
I believe your views that social care was poor under previous Labour administrations before thatcher was elected is incorrect . You might have had a poor experience but the people in need of social care today are faced with a dreadful service which is delivered by private companies whose reason for existence is to make profits and they do that by providing a crap service and by paying minimum wages and poor working conditions to poorly paid staff .